Flow regulator for liquefied gases



p 1957 T. A. ST. CLAIR 2,807,144

- mow REGULATOR FOR urinal-"IE0 GASES Filed Sept. 21, 1953 2 sneets -sheet 1 77 I H ,0- 27 M a N i: I j W THEODDRE A ZCLAIIE P 24, 1957 'r. A. ST. CLAIR 2,807,144

FLOW REGULATOR FOR' LIQUEFIED GASES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 21, 1953 IN V EN TOR. 7716000 85 A. 57: a: #2

4 rroRA/EY-S .ture ;of liquid: andr-gas present.

, pressureadmp takes place.

.the possibility of damage -corrosion.

United States PatentO *2;807,-144 FLOW REGULATOR FOR LIQUEEIEHGASES 'TheWeatherhead" Company; Cleveland, .Ghio, a corporation of Ohio aApplic-atiomSeptember 21 1953,Serial'No.s381,403 ""2 Claims. ',('Cl'.'j62-'1) This invention relates generally=gto=fiuidzmetering devices andmore particularly :to. imeter ifiuidadevices adapted addition-30f ammonia. to 2 ;the:.1s01lnis1;eithersdone;zdirectly by =;permeating -.the soil :with'nammonia ornbyi'iintroducing ammonia into watermhichois later usedytoziirrigate the soil as ammonia hydroxide.

wfEhe: idifiiculty -.has ibeen encountered inwcontrolling 1116. rateoftaflow ofithe .am-

-.m onia either; :into ;the aSOil :itself. .or..into: the water. used to-irrigate the soil since the;pressurerinxtheisupply .tank

' of liquefiedammoniaxmay: vary'iaszmuchaas ,120 pounds per square incl'ndu-ring. a singleday.

F'NumerouS attempts to solvetheproblems; presented: by the wide .variation .-;in; supply: pressure: have-beennmadep however, in general difficulty has ,been: encountered in providing a measuring w device whereinzthe: possibility; of 's fia'shsover from liquid ator-a gas haswbeemeliminated.

. Those skilled in ;the art Willi realize "that in order; to

provide. .accurateametering. through a :meter orifice, it is necessary Ethatgthexfluid. remain.;in. -one state with no mix According-tcv the present invention the liquid anhydrous ammonia is maintained 12in, :itstliquidz state: tour-both sidesaof-.a metering orifice and fiche; pressurewdrop .across2 the: orifice is maintained" relatively 1 small -.and;substantially i constant.

The liquid does not tend. to. change over into? the:gaseousstate-until"it is discharged from ithe' regulating apparatus -where tthe large iThlS- confines -the evaporation .to 11118 areas. and :also 1 iproviding forthe chillingof---the .entire. meteringdevice .to super-cool the=-incoming liquid ;,and;preventaany evaporation:in theqnetering orifice.

I It is; the,.-principa1=- object =of this inverition to provide a. meteringziapparatus' for liquefied-t gases Which-prevents any z-fiash-over from: ithe s-liquid to gaseous 1 state -within the metering apparatus, and '-=which-- gprovides accu-rate meteringarof ithe liquid overwide ranges "of inlet, and

outlet'pressures. V

,Itis; another object -of this 'invention---to; provide a "metering apparatus for liquefied gases-wherein the apparatus .is cooled by latent heat --of evaporation thereby .ssuper-coolingi'the liquid being-metered and' hence' providing accurate: metering.

It is still another object of this inventiouto provide a metering-J. device wherein-moisture and contamination is p v n zfrom entering .the.:.device thereby eliminating to. ,..the various elements by ..It, is still another object of this,inventionzatogprovide a quantitative direct reading apparatus' for liquefied gases which will provide all oi the above advantages and i-wh c ail ebe low in eQQStiand-idependable int operation.

gThC forggoiggilhdrothen, hjectszarid advantages will become apparent in view of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view schematically showing a metering apparatus according to this invention applied 2,807,144 Batented. Sept" 24,1957

- to a systemwfon injectinganhydrous'iammoniainto water;

and,

Fig.2 is a side;elevation-in section showing a-metering apparatus according toi'this invention. -A-.-metering apparatus according to this invention provides a body formedwith an-1inlet;=adapted -to :be; convnected to a source-of liquefied; gas and-anoutlet toiwbe connected to. a-system to be: supplied. jLocated within -=thebody is an adjustable; metering orifice, a, differential 0- pressure regulator,-a::back- ;check valve and .a filter. :or strainer. The idifierentiakpressure :regulator isprovided with a' flexible diaphragm whichdlVldESjthG. pressure regulator into-rahighv pressurechamber Land. ai'low pressure chamber. QThe tcliaphragm isnoperably connected to 15 -a-regulating-valve andisI-biased toward the :high-presi sure chamber; by spring means. -.:The.high-pressure. cham- -.;ber;of thedifierential pressure regulator and one side: of the metering orifice} are,::in::fluid communication =with the-inletthroughithe=filterzor screen-rand thelow pressure 2'Chfi11'1b61 of the. iidifferential u-pressure regulator; and the other side -ofithe tmeteringxiorifice are in fluid communicationiwithazthe voutlet through .the back Lcheck valve. .:=Referring;:1o ithezdrawings; Fig; idiscloses :the environment, ;of rzthe 1: metering. apparatus wherein. a: supply :tank .:10.'containingliquefied,anhydrous ammonia is connected vto:the:meteringiapparatus M. :The flow. of anhydrous zrainmonia is controlled in :ithe metering apparatus and e2ihausted;zinto :thfilil'lOZZlES .111 which -.are,-:adapted Lfor ethe: injection':of,.theaanhydrous ;ammonia1 tinto soil, or water :which :.will1later1sbe n'sedxto :injgatezpurposes.

:The izmeteringi apparatus 01M is comprisedl -lof a body 14 formed ,with anrinlet borer-l6randzanzoutlet bore" 17. Ehe inlet i316 ois'i zthrea dedz do: receive I an .inlet -pipe conl'IECIfid' toa-rsupply atankuz-by conventional .ameans. The :1inl6twbOIe 16-:extends intos1thesbodylu14= and supplies a cavity ;into which tatatubularxfilter;screen =fl9 -.'-is-.inserted. pffihemfilterrzscreenezw .lSE arranged; sojuthat afluidi fiowing ;-intothe :metering .s-z-apparatuscnthroughi the-rinlet coupling --:flo.WS throllghfi'ithenmesh fof etheascreen intoithe main 40 portion of the inlet bore 16. Thisfifiltering. of the -fluid --rfiowingainto theameterin'g ides ice; preventsathe-possibility 0f Sforeign: 'mattenwwhichr might hinderithesoperation of 311116. deviceflrfiromi-reaching rhea-metering elements. 'Fhe cap; 18= is .threadediiintoathe:othensend of irthe bore' 16: to @assistwin:apositioningqxthez:sereen wand '10 close that ..-;end*of the bore.

.-The':-b ody;;:1-4: is 5 also: fiormed with a ebore ZI adapted .t-to receivezanmeteringaorificeeassembly tzz. *i'lihe' 'bore 21 iszthread'ed as iatr23 itherebyaproviding means for-mount- .C'.ing1ithe aneteringgorifice assemblyc'zzisecurelyain position. t The lmetQlflHgIOlilfiCfiifiSSBlTlblYEZZl comprises: a-meter\.-valve {:fhOU-Sillg 24nadaptedi'toxbe threaded in'toithe-bore 23 and y g; providedrwith ,anmairinboreiz26 and ansmallen orifice bore 27 -coaxi al;-therewith. :Thebboreszn-Z- and 27 are 'conectedzbyyancinterrnediateqcoaxial bore 728 which terminates :in a-vshoulderz29. 'J'Fhe shoulde r zi' in -conjunctionawi,th-;-the orificezbore2-27a2defines theor ificeand v.alve-.seat 31. iThe :meter-=:valve7- housing isalso Jforrne'd with; a -icrossabore 32.. which intersects =-the i-nter- 6 niediate bore. 8. j A g-suitable sealing: means suc h 1 as .--,-the; O'-ri ng:-.33-. aprovidedatoi-sea1-.: theavalve housing and the -mainr bore ['21. :Arn1adjustable:zmetering valve fl is I threaded 1 into -:the amainfbore and terminatesin a tapered;end sunfacetorwhichzistarrangedx to seat'against -.the orificezand tzalveseat'iil. and regulate the flow through rthe 'DIlficeJidePfilldiDgiHPOIIithCEPOSltlOIl of- -the valve 34. 1 .=A:suitahle.\isealing rneans such as the O ring 37-rnay be xprovidedafor sealing the metering valve 34-and-jthe valve housing 24. Tihe dial knob 38 is threa'ded onthe other end of the valve 34 and provided with set screws 39 adapted to lock the dial knob 38 on the valve 34 in the desired position. The dial knob 38 is also formed with a stop surface 41 adapted to engage the dial stop pin 42 which is mounted in the body 14 thereby limiting the rotational movement of the dial knob and in turn the valve 34. p p I A differential pressure regulator I assembly is" also mounted within the body 14. For this purpose the body is formed with amain regulator bore 43 which terminates in a shoulder 44. The second regulator bore 46 extends beyond the shoulder 44 to form a portion of the regulator chamber. The passage 47 extends from the bore 46 and provides fluid communication with the outlet bore 17. A diaphragm 48 fits against the shoulder 44 and is held in position with the diaphragm. mounting 7 block 49. The diaphragm mounting block 49 is also provided with an annular cavity 51 which, inconjunction with the diaphragm 48, defines the high pressure chamber 52 of the regulator. The second bore 46, in conjunction with the diaphragm 48, in turn defines the low pressure chamber 53 of the regulator. A regulator valve assembly 54 is mounted in the passage 47 and is actuated by the diaphragm 48. This assembly comprises a housing member 56 formed with a valve seat 57 and a valve member 58 formed with a conical end surface 59. The other end of the valve member 58 is urged into engagement with the diaphragm 48 by the spring 61.

An adjusting spring means is also provided to oppose the action of the spring 61 and comprises an adjusting plug 62 which abuts against the adjusting spring 63. The plug 62 is threaded into the block 49 thereby providing for adjustment of the compression on the adjusting spring 63 and, in turn, adjustment of the total biasing force on the diaphragm 48. A cover plate 64 and block 49 are securely mounted in the body 14 by means of the bolts 66. The back check valve 68 seats against the valve seat 69 formed in the housing member 56 and is biased against the valve seat by the back check valve spring 71 which is in turn held in position by the spring retainer 72. This back check valve prevents reverse flow of any fluids through the outlet into the metering apparatus thereby preventing water from entering and damaging the apparatus. If the back check valve were not used, moisture would enter the metering apparatus when not in use because of the solubility of anhydrous ammonia in water.

A passage 73 is provided the inlet bore 16 with the the bore in the body 14 to connect high pressure chamber 52 and 21 and provides fluid communication therebetween. Still another passage 76 is provided in the body 14 to provide fluid communication between the downstream side of the metering orifice and the low pressure chamber 53 of the differential pressure regulator.

It is apparent from the above description that a predetermined flow will be provided for any given orifice setting so that calibrations 77 provided on the knob 38 may register with the reference mark 78 on the meter M.

In operation it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the desired pressure differential will be maintained by the difierential pressure regulator and that this will maintain the desired pressure drop aross the metering orifice. Those skilled in the art will also realize that so long as a constant pressure drop is maintained, across the metering orifice, a constant flow of liquid will pass through the metering orifice providing all of the fluid flowing through the orifice is liquid and no gas is present. In the preferred embodiment of this invention a relatively small pressure differential is utilized so that the pressure below the metering orifice is relatively closely associated with the inlet pressure of the liquefied gas. It is therefore, apparent that a relatively large pressure drop will take place across the regulator valve and that a substantial amount of vaporization or flashover will take place in this area. This will, of course, result in substantially cooling the body 14. Of course,

I through said outlet the body 14 being cool will in turn super-cool the liquid flowing into the inlet thereby preventing any flash-over of the liquid passing through the metering orifice.

Because of the simple construction of the apparatus it is possible to replace the entire metering assembly by merely loosening the set screws 39 and threading the valve 34 out of the valve housing 24. At this time the housing 24 is easily accessible and may be removed or replaced if necessary.

To replace the diaphragm 48 it is a simple matter to remove the diaphragm mounting block 49 thereby giving access to the diaphragm.

Having completed a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention so that others skilled in the art may be able to understand and practice the same, I state that what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is not limited by said preferred embodiment but rather is defined in what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A differential pressure regulating and metering device for liquefied gas, comprising a metal body having an inlet bore and an outlet bore, said body having a diaphragm chamber, said diaphragm chamber having an outlet port opening into the said outlet bore, a flexible diaphragm within said chamber and a regulating valve having one end thereof against said diaphragm and the other end thereof disposed in said diaphragm chamber outlet port, said body having a passageway leading from said inlet bore into the diaphragm chamber on that side of the diaphragm remote from said regulating valve, said body having a metering valve orifice to meter liquid moving through said body from the inlet bore to the outlet bore, said body having a passageway leading from said diaphragm chamber at the inlet side of the diaphragm to said metering valve orifice and a passageway leading from said metering orifice to the outlet side of said diaphragm chamber whereby all liquefied gas moving frim the inlet bore to the outlet bore first traverses the diaphragm chamber at one side of the diaphragm and thence to the metering valve and thence into the diaphragm chamber at the other side of the diaphragm.

2. A differential vice for liquefied an inlet bore and pressure regulating and metering degas, comprising a metal body having an outlet bore, said body having a diaphragm chamber separated into inlet and outlet cavities by a flexible diaphragm within said chamber, a regulating valve member in the outlet cavity having one end thereof against said diaphragm, said outlet cavity having an outlet port, said valve member having the other end thereof disposed in said outlet port, said body having a passageway leading from said inlet bore into the said inlet cavity, said body having a metering valve orifice to meter liquid moving through said body from the inlet bore to the outlet bore, said body having a passageway leading from said inlet to said metering valve orifice and a passageway leading from said metering valve orifice to the outlet cavity whereby all liquefied gas moving from the inlet bore to the outlet bore first traverses the inlet cavity and thence through the metering valve and thence into the outlet cavity and thence port to the outlet bore.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

